Glycol terminated macromolelcular monomers having a substantially uniform molecular weight distribution

ABSTRACT

This application discloses a copolymerizable macromolecular monomer having a substantially uniform molecular weight distribution such that its ratio of Mw/Mn is not substantially about about 1.1, where Mw is the weight average molecular weight of the macromolecular monomer, and Mn is the number average molecular weight of the macromolecular monomer, said macromolecular monomer being represented by the structural formula: WHEREIN R is lower alkyl and R&#39;&#39; is either hydrogen or methyl, and n is a positive integer having a value of at least about 20.

United States Patent 1191 Milkovich et al. Nov. 5, 1974 GLYCOL TERMINATED MACRO- 3,598,799 8/1971 Naylor .1 260/876 MOLECULAR MONQMERS HAVING A 3,627,837 t2/197l Webb 260/836 SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM MOLECULAR 3,639,519 2/l972 HSiCh at 211.. 260F947 WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION 3,786,116 l/l974 Milkovich 260/886 [75] Inventors: Ralph Milkovich, Naperville; Primary ExaminerJames A. Seidleck Mutong T. Chiang, Palos Heights, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Albert P. Halluin both of ll].

[73] Assignee: CPC International Inc., Englewood [57] ABSTRACT Cliffs, NJ. This application discloses a copolymerizablc macro- I molecular monomer having a substantially uniform [22] Filed" July 1973 molegilar weight distribution such that its ratio of [21] Appl. No.: 376,108 l\ l w/Mn is not substantially about about 1.1, where Related Us A cation Data Mw is the weight average molgular weight of the pp macromolecular monomer, and Mn is the number av- [601 2:: 244,205, April 14, 1972, which is a continuation-inm Tgnomer emg reprepart of Ser. No. 117.733, Feb. 22, 1971. Sen 8 y e S we um Ormu abandoned,

I [52] US. Cl. 260/93.5 A, 260/73 R, 260/75 R, o

260/77.5 AP, 260/77.S CR, 260/93.5 R, R H --C CH CH- CH 260/348 R, 260/618 JR [51] Int. Cl. C08f 27/00, C08f 7/04 n [58] Field of Search 260/93.5 R, 93.5 A, 348 R, 260/947 A, 618 R 5 References Cited wherein R is lower alkyl and R is either hydrogen or UNITED STATES PATENTS inethylt; andotz) is a positive integer having a value of-at I t 3,050,511 8/1962 Szwarc 260/93.5 R eds a Ou 3,390,206 6/1968 Thompson 260/886 3 Claims, No Drawings 1 GLYCOL TERMINATED MACROMOLECULAR MONOMERS HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM MOLECULAR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of co-pending application Ser. No. 282,099, filed Aug. 21, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,1 16, granted Jan. 15, 1974. Application Ser. No. 282,099 is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 244,205, filed Apr. 14, 1972, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 117,733, filed Feb. 22, 1971, said later application now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION a. Statement Of The Invention The present invention relates to chemically joined, phase separated thermoplastic graft copolymers and novel macromolecular monomers useful in the preparation of the graft copolymers.

b. Description Of The Prior Art Polymer technology has developed to a high degree of sophistication and extensive research efforts in this direction are being undertaken to obtain improvement in polymer properties. Some of these efforts lead to polymer materials capable of competing with metals and ceramics in engineering applications. Generally, it is a requirement that these polymers be crystalline, since crystalline polymers are strong, tough, stiff and generally more resistant to solvents and chemicals than their non-crystalline counterparts.

Many poly alpha-olefms are crystalline and have excellent structural integrity; and, accordingly, have acquired increasing commercial acceptance as materials for competing with metals and ceramics. As one example, polyethylene has been regarded as one of the most important polymers among the major plastics, with its production reaching about 6 billion pounds in 1970 (1.7 billion pounds of high density linear polyethylene and 4.3 billion pounds of low density polyethylene.)

Despite the widespread use of this important plastic, its use has been limited to flexible, translucent, molded articles or flexible, clear films, due to its softness. The uses of polyethylene have also been limited due to its poor adhesion to many substrates and its low heat distortion, rendering it unsuitable for many high temperature applications.

Attempts by prior art workers to combine the properties of polyolefms and other polymers by either chemical or mechanical means generally has resulted in a sacrifice of many of the beneficial properties of both the polyolefin and the additional polymer. For example, graft copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene have been prepared only with difficulty due to the inertness these polymers have with many other polymerizable monomers and polymers. The resultant graft copolymer generally has been a mixture which also contains free homopolymers.

Polyblends of a polyolefin with another polymer prepared by blending quantities of the two polymers together by mechanical means have been generally unsuitable for many applications due to their adverse solubility or extractability properties when used with various solvent systems, particularly when containing a rubbery, amorphous component.

The above considerations recognized by those skilled in the art with respect to the incompatibility of polyolefins with other polymers find almost equal applicability in the case of other plastics such as the polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyvinylchlorides, etc. Thus, the incompatibility of both natural and synthetic polymers becomes increasingly apparent as more and more polymers having particularly good properties for special uses have become available, and as efforts have been made to combine pairs of these polymers for the purpose of incorporating the different, good properties of each polymer into one product. More often than not, these efforts have been unsuccessful because the resulting blendshave exhibited an instability, and in many cases the desirable properties of the new polymers were completely lost. As a specific example, polyethylene is incompatible with polystyrene and a blend of the two has poorer physical properties than either of the homopolymers. These failures were at first attributed to inadequate mixing procedures, but eventually it was concluded that the failures were due simply to the inherent incompatibilities. Although it is now believed that this is a correct explanation, the general nature of such incompatibility has remained somewhat unclear, even to the present. Polarity seems to be a factor, i.e., two polar polymers are apt to be more compatible than a polar polymer and a non-polar polymer. Also, the two polymers must be structurally and compositionally somewhat similar if they are to be compatible. Still further, a particular pair of polymers may be compatible only within a certain range of relative proportions of the two polymers; outside that range they are incompatible.

Despite the general acceptance of the fact of incompatibility of polymer pairs, there is much interest in devising means whereby the advantageous properties of combinations of polymers may be combined into one product.

One way in which this objective has been sought involves the preparation of block or graft copolymers. In this way, two different polymeric segments, normally incompatible with one another, are joined together chemically to give a sort of forced compatibility. In such a copolymer, each polymer segment continues to manifest its independent polymer properties. Thus, the block or graft copolymer in many instances possesses a combination of properties not normally found in a homopolymer or a random copolymer.

Recently, U.S. Pat. NO. 3,235,626 to Waack, assigned to Dow Chemical Company, described a method for preparing graft copolymers of controlled branch configuration. It is described that the graft copolymers are prepared by first preparing a prepolymer by reacting a vinyl metal compound with an olefinic monomer to obtain a vinyl tenninated prepolymer. After protonation and catalyst removal, the prepolymer is dissolved in an inert solvent with a polymerization catalyst and is thereafter reacted with either a different polymer having a reactive vinyl group or a different vinyl monomer under free-radical conditions.

The current limitations on the preparation of these copolymers are mechanistic. Thus, there is no means for controlling the spacing of the sidechains along the backbone chain and the possibility of the sidechains having irregular sizes. Due to the mechanistic limitations of the prior art methods, i.e., the use of an alphaolefin terminated prepolymer with acrylonitrile or an acrylate monomer, complicated mixtures of free homopolymers result.

in view of the above considerations, it would be highly desirable to devise a means for preparing graft copolymers wherein the production of complicated 5 mixtures of free homopolymers is minimized and the beneficial properties of the sidechain and backbone polymer are combined in one product.

Moreover, it is recognized and documented in the literature, such as R. Waack et al., Polymer, Vol. 2, pp. 365-366 (196i and R. Waack et al., J. Org. Chem, Vol. 32, pp. 3395-3399 (1967), that vinyl lithium is one of the slowest anionic polymerization initiators. The slow initiator characteristic of vinyl lithium when used to polymerize styrene produces a polymer having a broad molecular weight distribution due to the ratio of the overall rate of propagation of thestyryl anion to that of the vinyl lithium initiation. In other words, the molecular weight distribution of the polymer produced will be determined by the effective reactivity of the initiator compared with that of the propagating anionic polymer species, i.e., vinyl lithium initiator reactivity compared to the styryl anion. Accordingly, following the practice of US. Pat. No. 3,235,626, a graft copolymer having sidechains of uniform molecular weight cannot be prepared.

US. Pat. Nos. 3,390,206 and 3,514,500 describe processes for terminating free-radical and ionic polymerized polymers with functional groups which are described as capable of copolymerizing with polymerizable monomers. The functionally terminated prepolymers described by these patentees also would be expected to have a broad molecular weight distribution and, therefore, would not be capable of producing a chemically joined, phase separated theremoplastic graft copolymer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to thermoplastic graft copolymers comprised of copolymeric backbones containing a plurality of uninterrupted repeating units of the backbone polymer and at least one integrally copolymerized moiety per backbone polymer chain having chemically bonded thereto a substantially linear polymer which forms a copolymerized sidechain to the backbone, wherein each of the polymeric sidechains has substantially the same molecular weight and each polymeric sidechain is chemically bonded to only one backbone polymer.

The graft copolymers of the present invention assume a T" type structure when only one sidechain is copolymerizedinto the copolymeric backbone. However, when more than one sidechain is copolymerized into the backbone polymer, the graft copolymer may be characterized as having a comb-type structure illustrated in the following manner:

wherein a represents a substantially linear, uniform molecular weight polymer or copolymer having a sufficient molecular weight such that the physical propersegments of sufficient molecular weight such that the physical properties of the polymer are manifest.

The backbone of the graft copolymers of the present invention preferably contains at least about 20 uninterrupted recurring monomeric units in each segment. It has been found that this condition provides the graft copolymer the properties of the polymer. In other words, the presence of segments containing at least about 20 uninterrupted recurring monomeric units provides the graft copolymers with the physical properties attributed to this polymer, such as crystalline melting point (Tm) and structural integrity.

The backbone polymeric segments of the chemically joined, phase separated thermoplastic graft copolymers of the present invention are derived from copolymerizable monomers, preferably the low molecular weight monomers. These copolymerizable monomers include polycarboxylic acids, their anhydrides and amides, polyisocyanates, organic epoxides, including the thioepoxides, urea-formaldehydes, siloxanes, and ethylenically unsaturated monomers. A particularly preferred group of copolymerizable monomers include the ethylenically-unsaturated monomers, especially the monomeric vinylidene type compounds, i.e., monomers containing at least one vinylidene l lacwherein a hydrogen is attached to one of the free valences of the vinylidene group are contemplated as falling within the generic scope of the vinylidene compounds referred to hereinabove.

The copolymerizable monomers useful in the practice of the present invention are not limited by the exemplary classes of compounds mentioned above. The only limitation on the particular monomers to be employed is their capability to copolymerize with the polymerizable end groups of the sidechain prepolymer under free-radical, ionic, condensation, or coordination' (Ziegler or Ziegler-Natta catalysis) polymerization reactions. As it will be seen from the description of macromolecular monomers, described hereinbelow, the choice of polymerizable end groups includes any polymerizable compound commercially available. Accordingly, the choice of respective polymerizable end group and copolymerizable monomer can be chosen, based upon relative reactivity ratios under the respective copolymerization reaction conditions suitable for copolymerization reaction. For example, alpha-olefins copolymerize with one another using Ziegler catalysts, and acrylates copolymerize with vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile and other alkyl acrylates. Accordingly, an alphaolefin terminated macromolecular monomer copolymerizes with ethylene and alpha-olefins using a Ziegler catalyst and an acrylate or methacrylate terminated macromolecular monomer copolymerizes with vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, acrylates and methacrylates under free-radical conditions in a manner governed by the respective reactivity ratios for the comonomers.

As will be explained hereinafter, the excellent combination of beneficial properties possessed by the graft copolymers of the present invention are attributed to the large segments of uninterrupted copolymeric backbones and the integrally copolymerized linear sidechains of controlled molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution.

The term linear, referred to hereinabove, is being used in its conventional sense, to pertain to a polymeric backbone that is free from cross-linking.

The sidechain polymers having substantially uniform molecular weight are comprised of substantially linear polymers and copolymers produced by anionic polymerization of any anionically polymerizable monomer, as will be described hereinafter. Preferably, the sidechain polymer will be different than the backbone polymer.

It is preferred that at least one segment of the sidechain polymer of the graft copolymers of the present invention have a molecular weight sufficient to manifest the beneficial properties of the respective polymer. In other words, physical properties of the sidechain polymer such as the glass transition temperature (Tg) will be manifest. Generally, as known in the art, the average molecular weight of the segment of the polymeric sidechains necessary to establish the physical properties of the polymer will be from about 5,000 to about 50,000.

In light of the unusual and improved physical properties possessed by the thermoplastic graft copolymers of the present invention, it is believed that the monofunctionally bonded polymeric sidechains having substantially uniform molecular weight form what is known as domains.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the chemically joined, phase separated thermoplastic graft copolymers of the present invention are prepared by first preparing the sidechains in the form of monofunctional living polymers of substantially uniform molecular weight. The living polymers are thereafter terminated, as by reaction with a halogencontaining compound that also contains a reactive polymerizable group, such as, for example, a polymerizable olefmic or epoxy group, or a compound which contains a reactive site to an anion of the living polymer and a polymerizable moiety which does not preferentially react with the anion, e.g., maleic anhydride. The monofunctional terminated living polymer chains are then polymerized, together with the backbone monomer, to form a chemically joined, phase separated thermoplastic graft copolymer wherein the polymeric sidechains are integrally polymerized into the backbone polymer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The chemically joined, phase separated thermoplastic graft copolymers derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers as the backbone comonomer generally correspond to the following structural formula:

x is a positive integer wherein the terminal methylene group in X is either hydrogen, lower alkyl, e.g., methyl, halogen, etc., and in the case of X, joins the backbone polymer with the sidechain polymer), a saturated ester (i.e.,

wherein R is alkyl or aryl), nitrile (i.e., C=' N), amide (i.e.,

wherein R and R are either hydrogen, alkyl or aryl radicals), amine (i.e.,

wherein R and R are either hydrogen, alkyl or aryl radicals), isocyanate, halogen (i.e., F, Cl, Br or I) and ether (i.e., OR, wherein R is either alkyl or aryl radicals); X and X may be the same or different. However, in the case where X is an ester, X should be a functional group such as ester, halogen, nitrile, etc., as explained hereinabove with respect to the respective reactivity ratios of the comonomers used to prepare the graft copolymers; Y is a substantially linear polymer or copolymer wherein at least one segment of the polymer has a sufficient molecular weight to manifest the properties of the resepctive polymer, i.e., a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 50,000, preferably a molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 35,000, more preferably 12,000 to about 25,000; the symbols a, b and c are positive integers, with the proviso that a and b are each a value such that the physical properties of the uninterrupted segments in the backbone, e.g., Tm, are manifest, preferably at least about 20; and the symbol c is at least one, but preferably greater than one, e.g.,.a value such that the molecular weight of the graft copolymer will be up to about 2,000,000.

The formation of the graft copolymers of the present invention may be better understood by reference to the following reactions illustrated by the equations set forth below wherein the invention is illustrated in terms of polystyrene sidechains and polyethylene backbones. It can be seen from these equations that the first reactions involve the preparation of living polymers of polystyrene. The living polymers are thereafter reacted with a molar equivalent of allyl chloride, wherein the reaction takes place at the carbon-chloride bond, rather than at the carbon-carbon double bond. The vinyl terminated polystyrene, referred to herein as the alphaolefin terminated macromolecular monomer, is then copolymerized with ethylene to produce a graft copolymer of polyethylene, whereby the vinyl moiety of the polystyrene is integrally polymerized into the linear polyethylene backbone.

Alternatively, the living polymer can be reacted with an epoxide such as, for example, ethylene oxide, to produce an alkoxide ion which can then be reacted with the halogen-containing olefin, i e., allyl chloride, to produce an alphadefin terminated macromolecular monomer. This, in essence, places the terminal alphaolefin farther away from the aromatic ring of the polystyrene and therefore reduces any steric hindering influence that might be exerted by the aromatic ring.

In the equations above, the symbols a, b, c, n and X are positive integers wherein a and b are at least about 20, n has a value of from about 50 to about 500, and x has a value corresponding approximately to the sum 5 ofa and [2.

Preparation Of The Living Polymers FORMATION OF THE GRAFT GOPOLYMER OF ALPHA-OLEFIN TERMINATED POLYSTYRENE SIDECHAIN AND POLYETHYLENE BACKBONE Initiation: CH CH (CH )CHLi cs H s e CH CH (CH )CHCH CH Li Propagation: (n1)CH2 CH CH CH (CH )C CH CH CH CH Termination with Active End Group: CH CHCH CI CH CH 2 (CH C H CH CH CH Graft Cogolmerization: xCH

= CH Polymerization Catalyst 2 (CH ):CH

CH CH 3 m -CH inert organic diluent which does not participate in or interfere with the polymerization reaction.

Those monomers susceptible to anionic polymerization are well-known and the present invention contemplates the use of all anionically polymerizable monomers. Non-limiting illustrative species include vinyl aromatic compounds, such as styrene, alphamethylstyrene, vinyl toluene and its isomers; vinyl unsaturated amides such as acrylamide, methacrylamide, N,N-dilower alkyl acrylamides, e.g., N,N- dimethylacrylamide; acenaphthalene; 9- acrylcarbazole; acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile; organic isocyanates including lower alkyl, phenyl, lower alkyl phenyl and halophenyl isocyanates, organic diisocyanates including lower alkylene, phenylene and tolylene diisocyanates; lower alkyl and allyl acrylates and methacrylates, including methyl, t-butyl acrylates and methacrylates; lower olefins, such as ethylene, propylene, butylene, isobutylene, pentene, hexene, etc.; vinyl esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl octoate, vinyl oleate, vinyl stearate, vinyl benzoate; vinyl lower alkyl ethers; vinyl pyridines, vinyl pyrrolidones; dienes including isoprene and butadiene. The term lower is used above to denote organic groups containing eight or fewer carbon atoms. The preferred olefinic containing monomers are conjugated dienes containing 4 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule and the vinyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons containing up to about 12 carbon atoms.

Many other monomers suitable for the preparation of the sidechains by anionic polymerization are those disclosed in Macromolecular Reviews: Volume 2, pages 74-83, lnterscience Publishers, Inc. (1967), entitled Monomers Polymerized by Anionic Initiators, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The initiators for these anionic polymerizations are any alkali metal hydrocarbons and alkoxide salts which produce a monofunctional living polymer, i.e., only one end of the polymer contains a reactive anion. Those catalysts found suitable include the hydrocarbons of lithium, sodium or potassium as represented by the formula RMe wherein Me is an alkali metal such as sodium, lithium or potassium and R represents a hydrocarbon radical, for example, an alkyl radical containing Molecular Weight Of Living Polymer up to about carbon atoms or more, and preferably up to about eight carbon atoms, an aryl radical, an alkaryl radical or an aralkyl radical. Illustrative alkali metal hydrocarbons include ethyl sodium, n-propyl sodium, n-butyl potassium, n-octyl potassium, phenyl so- 60 The alkali metal hydrocarbons and alkoxylates are either available commercially or may be prepared by known methods, such as by the reaction of a halohydrocarbon, halobenzene or alcohol and the appropriate alkali metal.

An inert solvent generally is used to facilitate heat transfer and adequate mixing of initiator and monomer. Hydrocarbons and ethers are the preferred solvents. Solvents useful in the anionic polymerization process include the aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, t-butylbenzene, etc. Also suitable are the saturated aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons such as n-hexane, n-heptane, noctane, cyclohexane and the like. In addition, aliphatic and cyclic ether solvents can be used, for example, dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, dibutyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, anisole, tetrahydropyran, diglyme, glyme, etc. The rates of polymerization are faster in the ether solvents than in the hydrocarbon solvents, and small amounts of ether in the hydrocarbon solvent increase the rates of polymerization.

The amount of initiator is an important factor in anionic polymerization because it determines the molecular weight of the living polymer. If a small proportion of initiator is used, with respect to the amount of monomer, the molecular weight of the living polymer will be larger than if a large proportion of initiator is used. Generally, it is advisable to add initiator dropwise to the monomer (when that is the selected order of addition) until the persistence of the characteristic color of the organic anion, then add the calculated amount of initiator for the molecular weight desired. The preliminary dropwise addition serves to destroy contaminants and thus permits better control of the polymerization.

To prepare a polymer of narrow molecular weight distribution, it is generally preferred to introduce all of the reactive species into the system at the same time. By this technique, polymer growth by consecutive addition of monomer takes place at the same rate to an active terminal group, without chain transfer or termination reaction. When this is accomplished, the molecular weight of the polymer is controlled by the ratio of monomer to initiator, as seen from the following repre sentation:

Moles of Monomer Moles of Initiator As it can be seen from the above formula, high concentrations of initiator leads to the formation of low molecular weight polymers, whereas, low' concentrations of initiator leads to the production of high molecular weight polymers. i

The concentration of the monomer charged to the reaction vessel can vary widely, and is limited by the ability of the reaction equipment to dissipate the heat of polymerization and to properly mix the resulting viscous solutions of the living polymer. Concentrations of monomer as high as by weight or higher based on the weight of the reaction mixture can be used. However, the preferred monomer concentration is from about to about 25% in order to achieve adequate mixing.

As can be seen from the formula above and the foregoing limitations on the concentration of the monomer, the initiator concentration is critical, but may be varied according to the desired molecular weight of the living polymer and the relative concentration of the monomer. Generally, the initiator concentration can range from about 0.001 to about 0.1 mole of active alkali metal per mole of monomer, or higher. Preferably, the concentration of the initiator will be from about 0.01 to about 0.004 mole of active alkali metal per mole of monomer.

The temperature of the polymerization will depend on the monomer. Generally, the reaction can be carried out at temperatures ranging from about 100C up to about 100C. When using aliphatic and hydrocarbon diluents, the preferred temperature range is from about C to about 100C. With ethers as the solvent, the preferred temperature range is from about l00C to about 100C. The polymerization of the styrene is generally carried out at slightly above room temperature; the polymerization of alpha-methylstyrene preferably is carried out at lower temperatures, e.g., 80C.

The preparation of the living polymer can be carried out by adding a solution of the alkali metal hydrocarbon initiator in an inert organic.solvent to a mixture of monomer and diluent at the desired polymerization temperature and allowing the mixture to stand with or without agitation until the polymerization is completed. An alternative procedure is to add monomer to a solution of the catalyst in the diluent at the desired polymerization temperature at the same rate that it is being polymerized. By either method the monomer is converted quantitatively to a living polymer as long as the system remains free of impurities which inactivate the anionic species. As pointed out above, however, it is important to add all of the reactive ingredients together rapidly to insure the formation of a uniform molecular weight distribution of the polymer.

The anionic polymerization must be carried out under carefully controlled conditions, so as to exclude substances which destroy the catalystic effect of the catalyst or initiator. For example, such impurities as water, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and the like. Thus, the polymerizations are generally carried out in dry equipment, using anhydrous reactants, and under an inert gas atmosphere, such as nitrogen, helium, argon, methane, and the like.

The above-described living polymers are susceptible to further reactions including further polymerization. Thus, if additional monomer, such as styrene, is added to the living polymer, the polymerization is renewed and the chain grows until no more monomeric styrene remains. Alternatively, if another different anionically polymerizable monomer is added, such as butadiene or ethylene oxide, the above-described living polymer initiates the polymerization of the butadiene or ethylene oxide and the ultimate living polymer which results consists of a polystyrene segment and a polybutadiene or polyoxyethylene segment.

A poly(styrene-ethylene) block copolymer can be prepared by contacting living polystyrene with ethylene in the presence of a compound of a transition metal of Group V-VIII in the periodic table, e.g., titanium tetrachloride. This technique is also applicable to the alphaolefins, such as propylene. The resulting copolymer is still a living polymer and can be terminated by the methods in accordance to the practice of the present invention.

As noted above, the living polymers employed in the present invention are characterized by relatively uniform molecular weight, i.e., the distribution of molecular weights of the mixture of living polymers produced is quite narrow. This isin marked contrast to the typical polymer, where the molecular weight distribution is quite broad. The difference in molecular weight distribution is particularly evident from an analysis of the gel permeation chromatogram of commercial polystyrene (Dow 666u) prepared by free-radical polymerization and polystyrene produced by the anionic polymerization process utilized in accordance with the practice of the present invention.

Production Of The Macromolecular Monomers By Termination Of The Living Polymers The living polymers herein are terminated by reaction with a halogen-containing compound which also contains a polymerizable moiety, such as an olefinic group or an epoxy or thioepoxy group. Suitable halogen-containing terminating agents include: the vinyl haloalkyl ethers wherein the alkyl groups'contain six or fewer carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, amyl or hexyl; vinyl esters or haloalkanoic acids wherein the alkanoic acid contains six or fewer carbon atoms,-such as acetic, propanoic, butyric, pentanoic, or hexanoic acid; olefinic halides having six or fewercarbon atoms such as vinyl halide, allyl halide, methallyl halide, 6-halo-l-hexene, etc.; halides of dienes such as 2-halomethyl-1,3-butadiene, epihalo- 40 hydrins, acrylyl and methacrylyl halides, haloalkyl- Living PoTymer:

maleic anhydrides; haloalkylmaleate esters; vinyl haloalkylsilanes; vinyl haloaryls; and vinyl haloalkaryls, such as vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC); haloalkyl norbornenes, such as bromomethyl norbornene, bromonorbornane, and epoxy compounds such as ethylene or propylene oxide. The halo group may be chloro, fluoro, bromo, or iodo; preferably, it is chloro. Anhydrides of compounds having an olefinic group or an epoxy or thioepoxy group may also be employed, such as maleic anhydride, acrylic or methacrylic anhydride. The following equations illustrate the typical termination reactions in accordance with the practice-of the present invention:

n in Terminating gents (a) X--R3O--(.J cs

(h) x-rQ-smc an (1) --x R3T 2 CH l-C CH l R l I CH Cur C R 0? 2 L2 n 2 4 I ba c-oc on In the above equations, R, R R, R and R are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl, and aryl radicals. Preferably, R will be lower alkyl, such as sec-butyl; R will be either hydrogen or methyl; R will be phenyl; R will be hydrogen or lower alkylene radical; and R will be either hydrogen or lower alkyl radical. The symbol n is a positive integer such that the properties of the polymer are manifest, i.e., a value such that the polymer will have a molecular weight in the range of from about 5,000 to about 50,000, preferably a molecular weight in the range of from about 10,000 to about 35,000, more preferably a molecular weight in the range of from about 12,000 to about 25,000.

Termination of the living polymer by any of the above types of terminating agents is accomplished simply by adding the terminating agent to the solution of living polymer at the temperature at which the living polymer is prepared. Reaction is immediate and the yield is theretical. A slight molar excess of the terminating agent, with respect to the amount of catalyst, may be used although the reaction proceeds on a molefor-mole basis.

The termination may be conducted in any suitable inert solvent. Generally, it is advisable to utilize the same solvent system employed in the preparation of the l vmg polymer. A preferred embodiment of the inventron comprises conducting the termination reaction in a hydrocarbon solvent rather than the polar ether type solvents such as tetrahydrofuran. It has been found that the hydrocarbon solvents such as the aromatic hydrocarbons, saturated aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons cause several differences in the reaction conditions and the resulting product. For example, the termination reaction can be conducted at higher temperasec-Bu GB tures with hydrocarbon solvents as opposed to the ether solvents.

In some instances, because of the nature of the living polymer and the monomer from which it is prepared, or because of the nature of the terminating agent, certain deleterious side reactions occur which result in an impure product. For example, the carbanion of some living polymers have a tendency to react with functional groups or any active hydrogens of the terminatingagent. Thus, for example, acrylyl or methacrylyl chloride while they act as terminating agents because of the presence of the chlorine atom in their structure, they also provide a carbonyl group in the terminated polymer chain, and this carbonyl group may provide a center for attack by a second highly reactive living polymer. The resulting polymer either has twice the expected molecular weight or contains some chlorine, indicating that some of the living polymer has been terminated by reaction with a second living polymer or with one of the active hydrocarbons of the acrylyl or methacrylyl chloride.

It has been discovered that one means for overcoming the foregoing problem is to render the reactive carbanion less susceptible to reaction with the functional groups or any active hydrogens of a terminating agent. A preferred method to render the living polymer less susceptible to the adverse reaction is to cap the highly reactive living polymer with a lesser reactive reactant. Examples of some preferred capping agents include the lower alkylene oxides, i.e., one having eight or fewer carbon atoms such as ethylene and propylene oxide; diphenyl ethylene, etc. The capping reaction yields a product which still is a living polymer, but yields a purer product when subsequently'reacted with sec-Bu 2 CH CH Li CH a terminating agent containing a functional group or active hydrogen.

It has been found that diphenyl ethylene is an excellent capping agent when terminating agents such as, for example, vinyl chloroalkanoates are employed.

A particularly preferred capping agent is an alkylene oxide, such as ethylene oxide. It reacts with the living polymer, with the destruction of its oxirane ring. The following is a typical illustration of the capping reaction which shows the reaction of ethylene oxide as a capping agent with a living polymer prepared by the polymerization of styrene with sec-butyl lithium as the initiator:

CH- sec-Bu C CH 2 2 2 The capping reaction is carried out quite simply, as in the case of the terminating reaction, by adding the 25 capping reactant to the living polymer at polymeriza- 30 on a mole-for-mole basis.

It will be understood that when a large molar excess of alkylene oxide is reacted with the living polymer, a living polymer having two polymeric blocks is produced. A typical example with polystyrene segments 35 and polyoxyalkylene segments is illustrated as follows:

sec-B wherein x is a positive integer.

Either of the above-described ethylene oxide capped polymers can be conveniently terminated with a compound containing a moiety reactive with the anion of the capped polymer and a polymerizable end group, including the following typical compounds: acrylyl chloride, methacrylyl chloride, vinyl-2-chloroethyl ether, vinyl chloroacetate, chloromethylmaleic anhydride and its esters, maleic anhydride (yields half ester of maleic acid following protonation with water), ally! and methallyl chloride and vinylbenzyl chloride.

The reaction of the above-described capped living polymers with either acrylyl or methacrylyl chloride can be represented by the following reaction:

I CH2 I C-CC1 sec-Bu cu --cu --(crr ca 0) -cu ca 0 m L4 ll crr crr cn c rr o) CH2CH2OCC|I c11 LiCl 66 crr qu-cu ca o L1 wherein n is a positive integer of about at least 50, x is either or a positive integer and R is either hydrogen or methyl.

When an epihalohydrin is used as the terminating reagent, the resulting polymer contains a terminal epoxy group. This terminal epoxy may be used as the polymerizable group itself, such as in the preparation of a polyisobutylene or a polypropylene oxide backbone graft copolymer or may be converted to various other useful polymerizable end groups by any one of several known reactions.

As one embodiment of the invention, the terminated polymer containing an epoxy or thioepoxy end group may be reacted with a polymerizable carboxylic acid halide, such as acrylic, methacrylic, or maleic acid halide, to produce a beta-hydroxyalkyl acrylate, methacrylate or maleate ester as the polymerizable terminal moiety of the substantially uniform molecular weight polymer. These same polymerizable esters may be prepared from the terminal epoxy polymer by first converting the epoxy group to the corresponding glycol by warming the polymer with aqueous sodium hydroxide, followed by conventional esterification of the glycol end group with the appropriate polymerizable carboxylic acid, or acid halide.

The resulting glycol obtained by the aqueous hydrolysis of the epoxy group in the presence of a base may be converted to a copolymer by reaction with a high molecular weight dicarboxylic acid which may be prepared, e.g., by the polymerization of a glycol or diamine with a molar excess of phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, or the like. These reactions can be modified to obtain a polystyrene block and a polyamide block (Nylon). The glycol terminated polymer may also be reacted with a diisocyanate to form a polyurethane. The diisocyanate may be e.g., the reaction product of a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 400 with a molar excess of phenylene diisocyanate.

in another embodiment of the invention, an organic epoxide is copolymerized with a terminated polymer containing an epoxy or thioepoxy end group. The graft copolymer which results is characterized by a backbone having uninterrupted segments of at least about 20, and preferably at least about 30, recurring units of the organic epoxide. Preferred organic epoxides include' ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, hexylene oxide, cyclohexene epoxide and styrene oxide, i.e., those having 8 or fewer carbon atoms.

When a haloalkylmaleic anhydride or haloalkylmaleate ester is used as the terminating agent, the resulting terminal groups can be converted by hydrolysis to carboxyl groups. The resulting dicarboxylic polymer may be copolymerized with glycols or diamines to form polyesters and polyamides having a graft copolymer structure.

if it is desired to isolate and further purify the macromolecular monomer from the solvent from which it was prepared, any of the known techniques used by those skilled in the art in recovering polymeric materials may be used. These techniques include: (1) solvent-nonsolvent precipitation; (2) evaporation of solvent in an aquesous media; and (3) evaporation of solvent, such as by vacuum roll drying, spray drying, freeze drying; and (4) steam jet coagulation.

The isolation and recovery of the macromolecular monomer is not a critical feature of the invention. in

fact, the macromolecular monomer need not be recovered at all. Stated otherwise, the macromolecular monomer, once formed, can be charged with the suitable monomer and polymerization catalyst to conduct the graft copolymerization in the same system as the macromolecular monomer was prepared, providing the solvent and materials in the macromolecular monomer preparation reactor do not poison the catalyst or act in a deleterious manner to the graft copolymerization process. Thus, a judicious selection of the solvent and purification of thereactor system in the preparation of the macromolecular monomer can ultimately result in a large savings in the production of the graft copolymers of the present invention.

As pointed out above, the macromolecular monomers, which ultimately become the sidechains of the graft copolymers by being integrally polymerized into the backbone polymer, must have a narrow molecular weight distribution. Methods for determining the molecular weight distribution of polymers such as the macromolecular monomers are known in the art. Using these known methods, the weight average molecular weight (Ew) and the number average molecular weight (Mn) can be ascertained, and the molecular weight distribution (MW/Mn) for the macromolecular monomer can be determined. The macromolecular monomers must have nearly a Poisson molecular weight distribution or be virtually monodisperse in order to have the highest degree of functionality. Preferably, the ratio of Mw/Mn of the novel macromolecular monomers will be less than about 1.1. The macromolecular monomers of the present invention possess the aforementioned narrow molecular weight distribution and purity clue to the method of their preparation, described. hereinabove. Thus, it is important that the sequence of steps in preparing the macromolecular monomers be adhered to in order to produce the optimum results in beneficial properties in the graft copolymers.

Graft Copolymerization Prior to the invention herein, graft copolymers were prepared by synthesizing a linear backbone, then grafting onto this backbone, growing polymeric or preformed polymeric chains. These methods generally require elaborate equipment and produce a mixture of products having inferior properties unless further purified. Because of the additional processing conditions and the use of special equipment, these processes are not economically feasible.

Although some of the prior art graft copolymers, such as those described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,627,837, 3,634,548 and 3,644,584 and British Pat. Nos. 873,656 and 1,144,151 resemble the graft copolymers of the present invention. Generally, the present graft copolymers are different compositions, not only because they are prepared by significantly different processes, but because the pendant polymeric chains of the graft copolymers of this invention are of relatively uniform, minimum length, and are each an integral part of the backbone. Furthermore, the backbone of the graft copolymers of the present invention contain polymeric segments of certain minimum length. Thus, the present graft copolymers differ structurally because the macromolecular monomer is interposed between polymeric segments of the backbone polymer, rather than being merely attached to the backbone polymer in a random manner. These characteristics contribute materially to the advantageous properties which inhere in these novel graft copolymers.

The graft copolymers of the present invention are prepared by first synthesizing the pendant polymeric chains (the polymerizable terminated living polymers) then copolymerizing the terminal portions of the polymeric chains with the second monomer during the formation of the backbone polymer.

In accordance with the practice of the present invention, the substantially pure macromolecular monomers of high controlled molecular weight and molecular weight distribution have an appropriate reactive end group suitable for any mechanism of copolymerization, e.g., free-radical, cationic, anionic, Ziegler catalysts, and condensation. Thus, the reactive end group is selected for easy copolymerization with low cost monomers by conventional means and within existing polymerization equipment.

The copolymerization with the macromolecular monomers and the second reactive monomer is a graftlike structure where the pendant chain is a polymer whose molecular weight and distribution are predetermined by independent synthesis. The distribution of the sidechain polymer along the backbone is controlled by the reactivity ratios of the comonomers.

Since the reactive end group of the macromolecular monomer is copolymerized with the second monomer, it is an integral part of the backbone polymer. Thus, the polymerizable end group of the macromolecular monomer is interposed between large segments of the backbone polymer.

The present invention provides a means for controlling the structure of the graft copolymer. More specifically, the control of the structure of the graft copolymer can be accomplished by any one or all of the following means: (1 by determining the reactivity ratio of the macromolecular monomer and a second monomer during the copolymerization reaction, a pure graft polymer free from contamination by homopolymers can be prepared; (2) by controlling the monomer addition rates during the copolymerization of a macromolecular monomer and a second monomer, the distance between the sidechains in the polymer structure can'be controlled; and (3) the size of the graft chain can be predetermined and controlled in the anionic polymerization step of the preparation of the macromolecular monomer.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that by the proper selection of terminating agents, all mechanisms of copolymerization may be employed in preparing the controlled phase separated graft copolymers.

As alluded to hereinabove, the chemically joined, phase separated graft copolymers of the present invention are preferably copolymerized with any ethylenically-unsaturated monomer includingthe vinylidene type compounds containing at least one vinylidene group and preferably the vinyl-type compounds containing the characteristic CH =CH group wherein hydrogen is attached to one of the free valences of the vinylidene group. The copolymerization, as pointed out above, is only dependent upon the relative reactivity ratios of the terminal group and the comonomer.

Examples of some of the preferred ethylenicallyunsaturated compounds used as the comonomers include the acrylic acids, their esters, amides and nitriles including acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, the alkyl esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N,N- dimethacrylamide (NNDMA); the vinyl halides such as vinyl chloride, and vinylidene chloride; the vinyl cyanides such as vinylidene cyanide 1,1- dicyanoethylene); the vinyl esters of the fatty acids such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate and vinyl chloroacetate, etc.; and the vinylidene containing dicarboxylic anhydrides, acids and esters, fumaric acid and esters, maleic anhydrides, acids and esters thereof.

A particularly important class of vinylidene type compounds useful as comonomers with the alphaolefin and styrene terminated macromolecular monomers include the vinyl olefinic hydrocarbons, such as ethylene, propylene, l-butene, isobutylene, l-pentene, l-hexene, styrene, 3-methyl-l-butene, 4-methyl-lhexene and cyclohexene. Also, there may be used as the comonomers the polyolefinic materials containing at least one vinylidene group such as the butadiene-1,3 hydrocarbons including butadiene, isoprene, piperylene and other conjugated dienes, as well as other conjugated and non-conjugated polyolefinic monomers in- V cluding divinyl benzene, the diacrylate type esters of methylene, ethylene, polyethylene glycols, and polyallyl sucrose.

The most preferred ethylenically unsaturated comonomers are the commercially available and widely used monomers such as methyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2- ethyl hexyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinylidene cyanide, acrylonitrile; and the hydrocarbon monomers such as ethylene,

propylene, styrene; andthe conjugated dienes such as butadiene and isoprene.

In addition to the hereinabove described ethylenically-unsaturated comonomers useful in the practice of i the invention, there are included the comonomers cagroup upon saponification. This vicinal hydroxy group is capable of copolymerizing with polybasic acids and anhydrides to form polyesters, such as adipic acid, phthalic'anhydride, maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, trimellitic anhydride, etc.; aldehydes to form polyacetals, such as polyformaldehyde, ureaformaldehydes, acetaldehydes, etc.; polyisocyanates and poly-' isocyanate prepolymers to form polyurethanes; and siloxanes to form polysiloxanes. The living polymers terminated with halomaleic anhydride or halomaleate ester may be converted to terminal carboxyl groups by conventional hydrolysis. The resulting dicarboxylic terminated polymer can be copolymerized with glycols to form polyesters or with diamines to form polyamides having a graft copolymer structure. Alternatively, the maleic anhydride or ester terminal group or the polymcr can be used in the condensation polymerization with the glycols or diamines. The vicinal hydroxy or carboxyl terminated polymers of the invention can also be copolymerized with epoxy compounds, and the imine compounds, such as ethyleneimine.

The placement of the sidechain in the polymer backbone is dependent on the terminal group of the macromolecular monomer and the reactivity of the comonomer.

The macromolecular monomers of the invention are stable in storage and do not significantly homopolymerize. Furthermore, the macromolecular monomer copolymerizes through the terminal double bond or reactive end group and is not incorporated into the polymeric backbone by grafting reactions to the polymer of the macromolecular monomer segment.

As indicated hereinabove, the macromolecular monomers of the invention copolymerize with commercial vinyl monomers in a predictable manner as determined by relative reactivity ratios. It can be shown that the instantaneous copolymer equation:

(1) an r HI/MZ-D-I simply reduces to the approximation:

when M is in very low molar concentrations.

Thus, the macromolecular monomer (M copolymerizations with other monomers (M are described only by r values and monomer feed compositions. Rearrangement of equation (2) gives:

= Conversion M Conversion M The reactivity ratio, r can be estimated from a relatively low conversion sample of a single copolymerization experiment. The validity of this concept of a predictable and controllable reactivity of the macromolecular monomer can thereby be established. It has been shown that the reactivity of commercial monomers with the macromolecular monomers of the present invention with various end groups correlate with available literature values for reactivity ratios of r The method of the present invention permits the utilization of all types of polymerizable monomers for incorporation into backbone polymers, and makes it possible for the first time to design and build graft copolymers of controlled molecular structure, and of backbone and graft segments with different properties, such as hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments, crystalline and amorphous segments, polar and non-polar mg ments, segments with widely different glass transition temperatures, whereas prior work on SDS terblock copolymers had been limited to the incompatibility of glassy polystyrene blocks with rubbery polydiene blocks.

The copolymerization of the polymerizable macromolecular monomers with the comonomers may be conducted in a wide range of proportions. Generally speaking, a sufficient amount of the macromolecular monomer should be present to provide the chemically joining of at least one of the uniform molecular weight sidechain polymers to each backbone polymer, so that a noticeable effect on the properties of the graft copolymeric properties can be obtained. Since the molecular weight of the polymerizable macromolecular monomer generally exceeds that of the polymerizable comonomers, a relatively small amount of the polymerizable macromolecular monomer can be employed. However, the chemically joined, phase separated thermoplastic graft copolymers may be prepared by copolymerizing a mixture containing up to about %by weight, or more, of the polymerizable macromolecular monomers of this invention, although mixtures containing up to about 60% by'weight of the polymerizable macromolecular monomer are preferred. Stated otherwise, the resinous thermoplastic chemically joined, phase separated graft copolymer of the invention is comprised of (1) from 1% to about 95% by weight of the polymerizable macromolecular monomer having a narrow molecular weight distribution (i.e., a Mw/Mn of less than about 1.1), and (2) from 99% to about 5% by weight of a copolymerizable comonomer defined hereinabove.

The polymerizable macromolecular monomers copolymerize with the hereinabove referred to comonomers in bulk, in solution, in aqueous suspension and in aqueous emulsion systems suitable for the particular polymerizable macromolecular monomer, its end group and the copolymer employed. If a catalyst is employed, the polymerization environment suitable for the catalyst should be employed. For example, oilor solventsoluble peroxides such as benzoyl peroxides, are generally effective when the polymerizable macromolecular monomer is copolymerized with an ethylenically unsaturated comonomer in bulk, in solution in an organic solvent such as benzene, cyclohexane, hexane, toluene, xylene, etc., or in aqueous suspension. Water-soluble peroxides such as sodium, potassium, lithium and ammonium persulfates, etc. are useful in aqueous suspension and emulsion systems. In the copolymerization of many of the polymerizable macromolecular monomers, such as those with an ethylenically-unsaturated end group and a polystyrene, polyisoprene or polybutadiene repeating unit, an emulsifier or dispersing agent may be employed in aqueous suspension systems. In these systems, particularadvantage can be achieved by dissolving the water-insoluble polymerizable macromolecular monomer in a small amount of a suitable solvent, such as a hydrocarbon. By this novel technique, the comonomer copolymerizes with the polymerizable macromolecular monomer in the solvent, in an aqueous system surrounding the solvent-polymer system. Of course, the polymerization catalyst is chosen such that it will be soluble in the organic phase of the polymerization system.

As previously stated, various different catalyst systems can be employed in the present invention for the copolymerization process. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the particular catalyst system used in the copolymerization will vary, depending on the monomer feed and the particular end group on the macromolecular monomer. For example, when using a macromolecular monomer having a vinyl acetate end group, best results are generally obtained by employing free-radical catalyst systems. On the other hand, copolymerization utilizing isobutylene monomer feed with either an allyl, methallyl or epoxy terminated macromolecular monomer, best results are accomplished by utilizing the cationic polymerization techniques. Since the particular polymerizable end group on the macronation polymerization conditions; isobutylene only polymerizes under cationic polymerization conditions; the dienes polymerize by free-radical anionic and coordination polymerization conditions; styrene polymerizes under free-radical, cationic, anionic and coordination conditions; vinyl chloride polymerizes under freeradical and coordination polymerization conditions; vinylidene chloride polymerizes under free-radical polymerization conditions; vinyl fluoride polymerizes under free-radical conditions; tetrafluoroethylene polymerizes under free-radical and coordination polymerization conditions; vinyl ethers polymerize under cationic and coordination polymerization conditions; vinyl esters polymerize under free-radical polymerization conditions; acrylic and methacrylic esters polymerize under free-radical, anionic and coordination polymerization conditions; and acrylonitrile polymerizes under free-radical, anionic and coordination polymerization conditions.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the solvent, reaction conditions and feed rate will be partially. dependent upon the type of catalyst system utilized in the copolymerization process. One of the considerations, of course, will be that the macromolecular monomer be dissolved in the solvent system utilized. It is not necessary, however, for the monomer feed to be soluble in the solvent system. Generally, under these conditions during the formation of the copolymer, the graft copolymer will precipitate out of the solvent wherein it can be recovered by techniques known in the polymer art.

The temperature and pressure conditions during the copolymerization process will vary according to the 40 type of catalyst system utilized. Thus, in the production of low density polyolefin backbones under free-radical conditions, extremely high pressures will be employed. On the other hand, the high density substantially linear polyolefin backbone polymers produced-by the coordination type catalyst generally will be prepared under moderately low pressures.

When preparing graft compolymers having a polyolefin backbone of ethylene or propylene or copolymers of ethylene and propylene together with a macromolecular monomer, it is preferred to employ a coordination catalyst known in the art as the Ziegler catalyst and Natta catalysts (the latter being commonly used for polypropylene). That is, materials advanced by Professor-Dr. Karl Ziegler of the Max Planck Institute of Mulheim, Ruhr, Germany, and Dr. Giulio Natta of Milan, Italy, Italy. of these catalysts are disclosed in Belgian Pat. No. 533,362, issued May 16, 1955, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,113,115 and 3,257,332 to Ziegler et al. These catalysts are prepared by the interaction of a compound of transition metals of group IV-VIII in the periodic table, the catalyst, and an organo-metallic compound derived from group l-llI metals, as co-catalyst. The latter are compounds such as metal hydrides and alkyls capable of giving rise to hydride ions or carbanions, such as trialkyl aluminum. Compounds of the transition elements have a structure with incomplete d-shells and in the lower valence states, can associate with the metal alkyls to form complexes with highly polarized bonds. Those elements hereinabove referred to as the catalysts are preferably titanium, chromium, vanadium, and zirconium. They yield the best Ziegler cat alysts by reaction of their compounds with metal alkyls. As previously stated, the solvent system utilized will most conveniently be the solvent employed in the preparation of the macromolecular monomer. Solvents useful for the polystyrene macromolecular monomers are those which dissolve polystyrene. Typical solvents for catalyst, macromolecular monomer, monomer feed,

resulting graft copolymer and solvent used. Generally, the graft copolymerization will be conducted at a temperature of from about 10C to about 500C, preferably from about C to about 100C.

The graft copolymerization reaction is preferably conducted by placing a predetermined amount of the macromolecular monomer dissolved in the appropriate solvent in the reactor. The polymerization catalyst and monomer are thereafter fed into the solvent system to produce the graft copolymer.

It is generally desirable to provide a graft copolymer having at least about 2% macromolecular monomer incorporated in the backbone polymericmaterial, however, satisfactory results can be obtained with up to about by weight macromolecular monomer incorporation. Preferably, the graft copolymers of the present invention will have about 5% to about 20% by weight incorporation of the macromolecular monomer into the backbone polymeric material to obtain the optimum physical properties of both the sidechain polymer and the backbone polymer. However, graft copolymers having up to about 95% by weight of the macro molecular monomers incorporated therein may be prepared and are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

The means for providing the proper amount of incorporation of the macromolecular monomer can be determined simply by adding the appropriate weighed macromolecular monomer used in the compolymeriza- Following'the procedures outlined above, graft copolymers having unique combinations of properties are produced. These unique combinations of properties are made possible by the novel process herein which forces the compatibility of otherwise incompatible polymeric segments. These incompatible segments segregate into phases of their own kind. The chemically joined, phase separated graft copolymers of the invention microscopically possess a controlled dispersion of the macromolecular sidechain in one phase (domain) within the backbone polymer phase (matrix). Because all of the macromolecular monomer sidechain domains are an integral part or interposed between large segments of the backbone polymer, the resulting graft copolymer will have the properties of a cross-linked polymer, if there is a large difference in the Tg or Tm of the backbone and sidechain segments. This is true only up to the temperature required to break the thermodynamic cross-link of the dispersed phase. In essence, a physically cross-linked (as opposed to chemical cross-linked) type polymer can be made that is reprocessable and whose properties are established by simple cooling, rather than vulcanization of chemical cross-linking.

The graft copolymers of the present invention are differentiated from the macroscropic opaque and weak blends of incompatible polymers of the prior art. The graft copolymers of this invention contain separate phases which are chemically joined and the dispersion of one segment into the matrix polymer is on a microscopic level and below the wavelength of light of the matrix polymer. The graft copolymers herein are, therefore, transparent, tough, and truly thermoplastic.

An illustrative example of the present invention includes combining the advantageous properties of polystyrene with the advantageous properties of polyethylene, although these two polymers normally are incompatible with one another and a mere physical mixture of these polymers has very little strength and is not useful. To combine these advantageous properties in one product, it is necessary that the different polymeric segments be present as relatively large segments. The properties of polystyrene do not become apparent until the polymer consists essentially of at least about recurring monomeric units. This same relationship applies to the polymeric segments present in the graft copolymers herein, i.e., if a graft copolymer comprising polystyrene segments is to be characterized by the advantageous properties of polystyrene, then those polystyrene segments must, individually, consist essentially of at least about 20 recurring monomeric units. This relationship between the physical properties of a polymeric segment in its minimum size is applicable to the polymeric segment of all graft copolymers herein. In general, the minimum size of a polymeric segment which is associated with the appearance of the physical properties of that polymer in the graft copolymers herein is that which consists of about 20 recurring monomeric units. Preferably, as noted earlier herein, the polymeric segments both of the copolymeric backbone and the side-chains, will consist essentially of more than about 30 recurring monomeric units. However, as it is well-known, the highly beneficial properties of polymers such as polystyrene are generally apparent when the polymer has a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 50,000, preferably from about 10,000 to about 35,000, more preferably 12,000 to about 25,000.

The polymeric segments of the graft copolymers of the invention may themselves be homopolymeric or they may be copolymeric. Thus, a graft copolymer of this invention may be prepared by the copolymerization of ethylene, propylene, and a terminated polystyrene containing a polymerizable alpha-olefin end group. The uninterrupted polymeric segments of the backbone of such a graft copolymer will be copolymeric segments of ethylene and propylene. I The graft copolymers comprising polymeric segments having fewer than about 20 recurring monomeric units are, nevertheless, useful for many applications, but the preferred graft copolymers are those in which the various polymeric segments have at least about 20 recurring monomeric units.

Although, as indicated, the graft copolymers herein are characterized by a wide variety of physical properties, depending on the particular monomers used in their preparation, and also on the molecular weights of the various polymer segments within a particular graft copolymer, all of these graft copolymers are useful, as tough, flexible, self-supporting films. These films may be used as food-wrapping material, painters dropcloths, protective wrapping for merchandise displayed for sale, and the like.

Graft copolymers of the macromolecular monomer, polystyrene, with ethylene-propylene, isobutylene, or propylene oxide monomers have been found to be stable materials that behave like vulcanized rubbers, but are thermoplastic and reprocessable. Thus, an extremely tough, rubbery plastic is obtained without the inherent disadvantages of a vulcanized rubber. These copolymerized rubber-forming monomers with the macromolecular monomers of the present invention have the additional use as an alloying agent for dispersing additional rubber for impact plastics.

Just as metal properties are improved by alloying, so are polymer properties. By adding the appropriate amount of an incompatible material to a plastic in a microdispersed phase, over-all polymer properties are improved. A small amount of incompatible polybutadiene rubber correctly dispersed in polystyrene gives high impact polystyrene. The key to this microdispersion is a small amount of chemical graft copolymer that acts as a flux for incorporating the incompatible rubber.

In a similar manner, a copolymer of the macromolecular monomer of the present invention can be the flux for incorporating or dispersing incompatible polymers into new matrices making possible a whole new line of alloys, impact plastics, malleable plastics and easy-to process plastics.

The use of the graft copolymers as alloying agents is particularly exemplified in the case of polyethylenepolystyrene blends. As it is well-known, polyethylene and polystyrene are incompatible when blended together. However, when using the graft copolymers of the present invention as an alloying agent, the polyethylene and polystyrene phases can be conveniently joined.

For example, a blend prepared by mixing to 51 parts by weight of commercial polyethylene (either low or high density), 10 to 49 parts by weight of commercial polystyrene and 5 to 30 parts by weight of a graft copolymer of the present invention comprising polystyrene sidechains and a polyethylene backbone are useful in making automobile parts, such as inner door panels, kick panels, and bucket seat backs, or appliance parts such as television components. Such blends are also useful as structural foams, sheets and films, containers and lids in packaging, beverage cases, pails, in the manufacture of toys, molded sheets in furniture, hot mold adhesives and computer and magnetic tapes.

The use of the graft copolymers of the present invention as an alloying agent offers a distinct advantage over the prior art blends, inasmuch as the plastic blend can be processed with minimized phase separation of the polystyrene and polyethylene polymers in the blend. The strength of the novel blends of the present invention is also improved over the blends of the prior art.

lf polystyrene in the macromolecular monomer is replaced by a poly(alpha-methylstyrene) and is copolymerized with ethylene, a similar polyblend can be prepared as described above. However, these blends will have heat stability which will allow the resulting plastics to be useful in'making hot water pipes, sheets in warm areas, and automobile parts, having oxidative stability over rubber-containing materials. These plastics also have utility in preparing reinforced fiberglass and fillers due to their good adhesion to fiberglass. Polyblends of poly(alpha-methylstyrene) graft copolymer with large amounts, i.e., 51-90% by weight of poly(alpha-methylstyrene) and -49% polyethylene, exhibit a higher heat distortion, together with high impact strength and high modulus. These plastics are useful in various engineering applications and in the manufacture of parts for aircraft, auto bodies, recreational vehicles, appliances, gears, bearings, etc.

Another useful blend utilizing the graft copolymers of the present invention comprises mixing 10 to 49 parts of low density polyethylene, 51 to 91 parts by weight of poly(alpha-methylstyrene) and zero to 30 ,parts by weight of polystyrene and 5 to 30 parts by weight of the graft copolymer of the present invention comprising polyethylene backbone with poly(alphamethylstyrene) or polystyrene Sidechains. The blend is extruded in a mill and the resultant plastic is found useful in making appliances such as coffee makers, humidifiers, high intensity lamps, color television sets, kitchen-range hardware, blenders, mixers, and electric toothbrushes. These plastics are also useful in preparing recreational vehicles such as snowmobile parts and helmets; machine parts such as gears, bearings; plumbing parts such as shower heads, valves, fittings and ballcocks; and motor housing, stamping, lawn sprinklers, stereo tape or cartridges, etc.

The reinforcement of plastics by adding glass fibers or other materials is difficult to achieve because of poor wetting character of many basic polymers. The

at which point an additional 0.885 parts (1.67 moles) of sec-butyl lithium solution is added, followed by the addition of 22.7 parts (218 moles) of styrene over a period of 44 minutes. The reactor temperature is maintained at 3642C. The living polystyrene is terminated by the addition of 0. l 27 parts of allyl chloride to the reaction mixture. The resulting polymer is precipitated by the addition of the alpha-olefin terminated polystyrene-benzene solution into methanol, whereupon the polymer precipitates out of solution. The alpha-olefin terminated polystyrene is dried in an air circulating atmosphere drier at 40-45C and then in a fluidized bed to remove the trace amounts of methanol. The methanol content after purification is 10 parts per million. The molecular weight of the polymer, as determined by membrane phase osmometry, is 15,400 (theory: 13,400) and the molecular weight distribution is very narrow, i.e., the Mw/Mn is less than 1.05. The macromolecular monomer has the following structural formula:

wherein n has a value such that the molecular weight of the polymer is 15,400.

b. The procedure of Example 1(a) is repeated using, in place of allyl chloride, an equivalent amount of methallyl chloride to produce a methallyl tenninated polystyrene.

c. The procedure of paragraph (a) is repeated using, in place of styrene, an'equivalent amount of ethylene oxide to produce a crystalline polyoxyethylene living polymer. The living polymer is terminated by the addi-. tion of a molar equivalent amount of vinylbenzyl chloride to produce a polymer having the following structural formula:

as reinforcing adhesion aids to glass fibers.

The invention is illustrated further by the following examples which, however, are not to be taken as limiting in any respect. In each case, all materials should be pure and care should be taken to keep the reacted mixtures dry and free of contaminants. All parts and percentages, unless expressly stated to be otherewise, are by weight.

Preparation Of Macromolecular Monomer Sidechains Having Uniform Molecular Weight EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2 a. Preparation of Poly(alpha-methylstyrene) Terminated With Allyl Chloride A solution of 472 grams (4.0 moles) of alphamethylstyrene in 2500 ml. of tetrahydrofuran is treated dropwise with a 12% solution of n-butyl lithium in hexane until the persistence of a light red color. An additional 30 ml. (0.0383 mole)-of this n-butyl lithium solution is added, resulting in the development of a bright red color. The temperature of the mixture is then lowered to C, and after 30 minutes at thistemperature, 4.5 grams (0.06 mole) of allyl chloride is added. The red color disappears almost immediately, indicating termination of the living polymer. The resulting colorless solution is poured into methanol to precipitate the alpha-olefin terminated poly(alpha-methylstyrene) which is shown by vapor phase osmometry to have a number average molecular weight of 11,000 (theory: 12,300) and the Lnole cular weight distribution is very narrow, i.e., the Mw/Mn is less than 1.05. The macrotural formula:

CH CH CH CH CH CH I CH alpha-methylstyrene, an equivalent amount respectively of:

b. 4-vinyl pyridine, terminating with a molar equivalent of allyl chloride to produce a polymer having the following structural formula:

(CH3)3-CO cu cu ca c. methacrylonitrile, terminating with a molar equivalent of vinylbenzyl chloride to produce a polymer having the following structural formula:

d. methyl methacrylate, terminating with vinylbenzyl chloride to produce a polymer having the following structural formula:

0. N,N-dimethylacrylamide, terminating with pvinylbenzyl chloride to produce a polymer having the followingv structural formula:

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of Polystyrene Terminated With Vinyl Chloroacetate A solution of one drop of diphenyl ethylene in 2500 ml. of cyclohexane at 40C is treated portionwise with a 12% solution of sec-butyl lithium in cyclohexane until the presistence of a light red color, at which point an additional 18 ml. (0.024 mole) of the sec-butyl lithium is added, followed by 312 grams (3.0 moles) of styrene. The temperature of the polymerization mixture is maintained at 40C for 30 minutes, whereupon the living polystyrene is capped by treatment with 8 m1. (0.040 mole) of diphenyl ethylene, then terminated by treatment with 6 ml. (0.05 mole) of vinyl chloroacetate. The resulting polymer is precipitated by addition of the cyclohexane solution to methanol and the polymer is separated by filtration. lts number average molecular weight, as determined by vapor phase osmometry, is 12,000 (theory: 13,265), and the molecular weight distribution is very narrow, i.e., the Mw/Mn is less than 1.06. The macromolecular monomer produced has the following structural formula:

l cu cu ca )c cu ca ca cu coca wherein n has a value such that the molecular weight of the polymer is 12,000.

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation Of Poly(alpha-methylstyrene) Terminated With Vinyl Chloroacetate ature, 5.6 ml. of diphenyl ethylene is added. The result-' ing mixture is poured into 5.0 ml. (0.04 mole) of vinyl chloroacetate and the thus-terminated poly(alphamethylstyrene) is precipitated with methanol and separated by filtration. Its number average molecular weight, as determined by vapor phase osmometry, is 14,280 (theory: 12,065) and the molecular weight distribution is very narrow. The macromolecular monomer produced has the following structural formula:

wherein n has a value such that the molecular weight of the polymer is 14,280.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation Of Polystyrene Terminated With Vinyl-Z-Chloroethyl Ether A solution of one drop of diphenyl ethylene at 40C is treated portionwise with a 12% solution of t-butyl lithium is pentane until the persistence of a light red color, atwhich point an additional 30 ml. (0.04 mole) of the t-butyl lithium solution is added, followed by 312 grams (3.0 moles) of styrene. The temperature of the polymerization mixture is maintained at 40 C for 30 minutes, whereupon the living polystyrene is terminated by treatment with 8 ml. (0.08 mole) of vinyl-2- chloroethyl ether. The resulting polymer is precipitated by addition of the benzene solution to methanol and the polymer is separated by filtration. Its number average molecular weight, as determined by vapor phase osmometry, is 7,200 (theory: 7,870) and themole ular weight distribution is very narrow, i.e., the Mw/Mn is less than 1.06. The macromolecular monomer produced has the following structural formula:

(CH C H CH CH CH OCH I CH wherein n has a value such that the molecular weight of the polymer is 7,200.

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of Polystyrene Terminated With Epichlorohydrin A benzene solutionof living polystyrene is prepared in Example 5 and terminated by treatment with 10 grams (0.10 mole) of epichlorohydrin. The resulting terminated polystyrene is precipitated with methanol and separated by filtration. Its molecular weight, as shown by vapor phase osmometry, is 8,660 (theory: 7,757) and its number average molecular weight distribution is very narrow. The macromolecular monomer produced has the following structural formula:

( H 3 c {ctgfin wherein n has a value such that the molecular weight, of the polymer is 8,660.

EXAMPLE 7 light reddish-brown color. An additional 24 ml. (0.031

mole) of this n-butyl lithium solution is added, and then, 416 grams (4.0 moles) of styrene, resulting in the development of an orange color. A temperature of 40C is maintained throughout by external cooling and by controlling the rate at which the styrene is added. This temperature is maintained for an additional 30 minutes after all of the styrene has been added, and then is lowered to 20C, whereupon 4.4 grams (0.1 mole) of ethylene oxide is added, causing the solution to become colorless. The living polymer is terminated by reaction with 10 ml. (0.1 mole) of methacrylyl chloridewThe resulting polymer has a number average molecular weight as shown by vapor phase osmometry of 10,000. The macromolecular monomer has the following structural formula:

,V cu cucu cu CH H CH CH OCC H CH d. Methallyl chloride is substituted for methacrylyl I chloride in procedure (a) to produce methallyl ether terminated polystyrene.

e. Maleic anhydride is substituted for methacrylyl chloride in procedure (a), followed by protonation -with water to produce polystyrene terminated with the half ester of maleic acid. 7

f. Epichlorohydrin is substituted for methacrylyl chloride to produce an epoxy ether terminated polystyrene.

g. The procedure of (a) is repeated using in place of styrene, an equivalent amount of isoprene and in place of n-butyl lithium an equivalent amount of sec-butyl lithium to produce primarily a rubbery cis-l,4-

polyisoprene. The low Tg living polymer is terminated by the addition of a molar equivalent, based on secbutyl lithium, ethylene oxide as a capping agent, followed by a molar equivalent amount of allyl chloride to produce a polymer predominantly having the following structural formula:

(m ntl tca mw icr i cu%-ca cu oca ca. CH:

C c n 7 CH H EXAMPLE 8 Preparation Of Polystyrene Terminated With Methacrylyl Chloride A stainless steel reactor is charged with 32 gallons of A.C.S. grade benzene (thiophene-free), which had been predried by Linde molecular sieves and calcium hydride. The reactor is heated to a temperature of between 38-40C and ml. of diphenyl ethylene is added to the reactor by means of a hypodermic syringe. An 1 1.4% solution of secondary butyl lithium in hexane is added to the reactor portionwise until the retention of a permanent orangeyellow color is obtained (60 ml.), at which point an additional 3.44 pounds of the secondary butyl lithium in hexane is added to the reactor, followed by the addition of 82.5 pounds of purified styrene over a period of 1 hour and 40 minutes. The reactor temperature is maintained at 3840C. The living polystyrene is capped by the addition of 0.28 pounds of ethylene oxide and the reaction solution changes from a red-orange color to yellow. The resulting capped living polystyrene is thereafter reacted with 260 ml. of methacrylyl chloride and the solution changes to a very pale yellow color. The methacrylate terminated polystyrene is precipitated by the addition of the polymer benzene solution into methanol, whereupon the polymer precipitates out of solution. The polymer is dried in an air circulating atmosphere drier at 4045C and then in a fluidized bed to remove the trace amounts of methanol. The molecular weight of the polymer as determined by membrane phase osmometry, is 13,400 and the molecular weight distribution is very narrow, i.e., the Mw/Mn is less than 1.05.

EXAMPLE 9 Preparation Of Polystyrene Terminated With Maleic Anhydride A stainless steel reactor is charged with 2.5 liters of A.C.S. grade benzene (thiophene-free), which had been predried by Linde molecular sieves and calcium hydride. The reactor is heated to 40C and 0.2 ml. of diphenyl ethylene is added to the reactor by means of a hypodermic syringe. A 12.1% solution of sec-butyl lithium in hexane is added to the reactor portionwise until the retention of a permanent orange-yellow color is obtained (0.7 ml.), at which point an additional 22.3 ml. of sec-butyl lithium solution is added, followed by the addition of 421.7 grams of styrene over a period of 16 minutes. The reactor temperature is maintained at 4045C. Five minutes after styrene addition is completed, ethylene oxide is added from a lecture bottle subsurface intermittently until the solution is water white. One hour after ethylene oxide addition is com-v monomer has a structural formula represented as fol-.

lows:

Sec-Butyl EXAMPLE 10 Preparation Of Polybutadiene Terminated With Allyl Chloride C.P. grade 1,3-butadiene (99.0% purity) is condensed and collected in l-pint soda bottles. These bottles had been oven baked for 4 hours at.150C, nitrogen purged during cooling, and capped with a perforated metal crown cap using butyl rubber and polyethylene film liners. These bottles containing the butadiene are stored at 10C with a nitrogen pressure head (10 psi) in a laboratory freezer before use. Hexane solvent is charged to the reactors and heated to 50C, followed by the addition of 0.2 ml. of diphenyl ethylene by way of a syringe. Secondary butyl lithium is added dropwise via syringe to the reactor until the red diphenyl ethylene anion color persists for at least about 1015 minutes. The reactor temperature is lowered to 0C, and 328.0 grams of butadiene is charged into the polymerization reactor, followed by the addition of 17.4 ml. (0.02187 mole) of a 12% secondary butyl lithium solution in hexane, when half of the butadiene charge has been added to the reactor. The butadiene is polymerized for 18 hours in hexane at 50C. Following the polymerization, 400 ml. portions of the anionic polybutadiene solution in the reactor is transferred under nitrogen pressure into capped bottles. Allyl chloride (0.48 ml., 0.00588 mole) is injected into each of the bottles. The bottles are clamped in water baths at temperatures of 50C and C for periods of time ranging up to 24 hours. The samples in each of the bottles are short stopped with methanol and Ionol solution and analyzed by Gel Permeation Chromatography. Each of the samples is water white and the analysis of the Gel Permeation Chromatography scans reveals that each of the samples had a narrow molecular weight distribution.

Several comparison samples were conducted in bottles coming from the same lot of living polybutadiene, which were capped with 2-chlorobutane (0.4 ml., 0.00376 mole) as the terminating agent. The resulting polymers terminated with 2-chlorobutane were yellow in color and after standing for a period of 24 hours at 70C, appeared to have a broad molecular weight distribution revealed by the Gel Permeation Chromatography scan. It is clear that the reaction and reaction product of 2-chlorobutane with anionic polybutadiene are different than the reaction and reaction product of allyl chloride and anionic polybutadiene.

EXAMPLE 1 1 Preparation of Methacrylate Terminated Polyisoprene A l-gallon Chemco glass-bowl reactor is charged with 2.5 liters of purified heptane which had been predried by a Linde molecular seive and calcium hydride, followed by the addition of 0.2 ml. of diphenyl ethylene as an indicator and the reactor is sterilized with the dropwise addition of tertiary butyl lithium solution 12% in hexane) until the retention of the characteristic light yellow color is obtained. The reactor is heated to 40C and 19.9 ml. (0.025 mole) of a 12% solution of tertiary butyl lithium in hexane is injected into the reactor via hypodermic syringe, followed by the addition of 331.4 grams (4.86 moles) of isoprene. The mixture isallowed to stand for one hour at 40C and 0.13 mole of ethylene oxide is charged into the reactor to cap the living polyisoprene. The capped living polyisoprene is held at 40C for 40 minutes, whereupon 0.041 mole of methacrylyl chlordie is charged into the reactor to terminate the capped living polymer. The mixture is held for 13 minutes at 40C, followed by removal of the heptane solvent by vacuum stripping. Based upon the Gel Permeation Chromatography scans for polystyrene, the molecular weight of the methacrylate terminated polyisoprene by Gel Permeation Chromatography was about 10,000 (theory: 13,000). The methacrylate terminated polyisoprene macromolecular monomer had a structural formula represented as follows:

EXAMPLE 12 Preparation Of Alpha-Olefin Terminated Polyisoprene A l-gallon Chemco glass-bowl reactor is charged with 2.5 liters of purified heptane which had been predried by a Linde molecular sieve and calcium hydride, followed by the addition of 0.2 ml. of diphenyl ethylene as an indicator. The reactor and solvent are sterilized by the dropwise addition of tertiary butyl lithium solution 12% in hexane) until the retention of the characteristic light yellow color is obtained. The reactor is heated to 40C and 19.03 ml. (0.02426 mole) of tertiary butyl lithium solution is injected into the reactor via hypodermic syringe, followed by the addition of 315.5 grams (4.63 moles) ofisoprene. The polymerization is permitted to proceed at 50C for 66 minutes and at this time 2.0 ml. (0.02451 mole) of allyl chloride is added to the living polyisoprene. The terminated polyisoprene is held at 50C for 38 minutes, whereupon the polymer is removed from the reactor to be used in copolymerization reactions. The polymer was analyzed by Gel Permeation Chromatography and had a very narrow molecular weight distribution, i.e., an Mw/Mn of less than about 1.06. The theoretical molecular weight of the polymer is 13,000. The polymerizable macromolecular monomer had a structural formula represented as follows:

(CH3) 3 G en, cm om CH: CH;

CH3 H n EXAMPLE 13 Polymerization Of Styrene With Vinyl Lithium To a l-gallon Chemco reactor, there is added 2500 ml. of tetrahydrofuran and cooled to 15C., at which time 6.5 ml. of a l 1 .2% solution of vinyl lithium in tetrahydrofuran (0.2 mole lithium) is added to the reactor, imparting a light tan color to the solution. The vinyl lithium was purchased from Alpha lnorganics Ventron of Beverly, Massachusetts, as a two molar solution in tetrahydrofuran. Analysis of the solution by several methods showed that the solution contained 1 1.2% active lithium. After the vinyl lithium solution is added, a 0.25 mole styrene charge is added to the reactor via syringe with theobservation of a small exotherm of about 1C (thereactor temperature is controlled by liquid nitrogen cooling coils inside the reactor at a temperature of 15C). Ten minutes after the styrene is added, 3.6 ml. of water is added to the reactor, resulting in an almost immediate change in color from deep orange-brown to water white and a considerable gas evolution is observed (the internal pressure in the reactor increased from 8 psig to 12 psig). A sample is taken from the head space (about 2.5 liters in volume) and from the liquid phase at the same time (the two samples are analyzed and identified as containing large amounts of ethylene). The styrene polymer is withdrawn from the reactor and analyzed. The GPC molecular weight of the polystyrene is 108,000, as measured against the Pressure Chemical Company sample 2(b) standard certified as K Tw/Mn 1.06, MW 20,800 i 800 and Mn 20,200 i 600. Measured against the same standard, the weight average molecular weight of the polymer is 99,000 and the number average molecular weight is 66,000. The polydispersity of the polymer is 1.49. Based upon the limiting polydispersity of about 1.33 for living polymers, as indicated in Henderson et al., Macromolecular Reviews, Vol. 3, lnterscience Publishers, page 347 (1968), several side reactions obviously occur when using vinyl lithium as a polymerization initiator. In addition, the broad molecular weight distribu tion and the inability to control the molecular weight of the polymer is indicative that the initiation rate of vinyl lithium is extremely slow. Accordingly, the vinyl lithium initiated polystyrene is not suitable in the preparation of the graft copolymers of the present invention in preparing chemically joined, phase separated graft copolymers, which have sidechains of controlled and uniform molecular weights.

Attempted copolymerization of the vinyl lithium initiated polystyrene with methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile under free-radical conditions only results in a mixture of polystyrene and the respective poly(methyl methacrylate) or polyacrylonitrile. Also, attempted copolymerization of the alpha-olefin terminated polystyrene of Example l( a) with methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile under free-radical conditions only resulted in a mixture of homopolymers as determined by IR analysis of the benzene and cyclohexane extracts. This result is expected due to the inability of alpha-olefins to polymerize under freeradical conditions.

Preparation Of Graft Copolymers Having Macromolecular Monomers integrally Polymerized Into The Backbone Example 14 Preparation Of Graft Copolymer From Poly(alpha-methylstyrene) Macromolecular Monomer Terminated With Allyl Chloride And Ethylene ml. of vanadium oxytrichloride, then pressured with h ethylene to 30 psig. This system is agitated gently for about 1 hour at 30C, whereupon a polymeric material precipitates from the solution. it is recovered by filtration and pressed into a thin transparent film which is tough and flexible.

Example a. Preparation Of Graft Copolymer Having A Polyethylene Backbone And Polystyrene Sidechains One gram of the alpha-olefin terminated polystyrene of uniform molecular weight prepared in Example l( a) is dissolved in 1500 ml. of cyclohexane and charged into a 2-liter Chemco reactor. The reactor is purged with prepurified nitrogen for 30 minutes, and 22 ml. of 25% ethylaluminum sesquichloride solution (in heptane) is added. The reaction is pressured to 40 psi with grams of ethylene into the solution. Thereafter, 0.1 ml. of vanadium oxytrichloride is added and the ethylene pressure drops from 40 psi to 1 psi in about 1 minute. The reaction is terminated in 3 minutes by the addition of isopropanol. The polymer is recovered by filtration and slurried with cyclohexane and then with isopropanol. The yield is 18.0 grams of a fluffy, white copolymer having a macromolecular monomer sidechain content of 5.8%, as determined by IR. Extraction and analysis of the extracts indicate all of the macromolecular monomer and 17.0 grams of the ethylene copolymerized.

b. The procedure in Example 15 (a) is repeated, except that 2.0 grams of the macromolecular monomer is used instead of 1.0 gram. The yield of the copolymer is 20.5 grams and the macromolecular monomer sidechain content, as determined by l.R.. is 10%.

Example 16 a. Preparation Of Graft Copolymer Having A Polyethylene Backbone And Polystyrene Sidechains A 2-liter Chemco reactor is charged with 1500 ml. of purified cyclohexane. 20 grams of alpha-olefin terminated polystyrene prepared in Example 1(a) is added and dissolved in the purified cyclohexane. The reactor is thereafter purged with prepurified nitrogen for one hour with concurrent slow agitation. Ethylene is added to the reactor at the rate of 5 liters per minute to a pressure of 5 psi. The contents of the reactor is heated and controlled at C, and high speed stirring is started; ethylaluminum sesquichloride (22.8 ml., 25% in heptane) catalyst is injected into the reactor by a hypodermic syringe, followed by the addition of 0.1 ml. of vanadium oxytrichloride. Polymerization begins immediately and the ethylene pressure in the reactor drops to nearly zero in about a minute. At this point, the ethylene rate is reduced to 0.5 liter per minute, and cooling is used to maintain a temperature of 25C. At the end of 1 hour, a total of 43 grams of ethylene has been charged into the reactor, and the reactor is full of a fluffy polymer slurry. The reaction is stopped by the addition of 50 ml. of isopropanol to inactivate the catalyst.

The polymer is recovered by filtration, slurried and boiled in 1.5 liters of benzene for one hour, then refiltered to remove all the unreacted alpha-olefin terminated polystyrene from the Copolymer. The polymer is then slurried in 1.5 liters of isopropanol and 0.03 gram of lrganox 1010 anti-oxidant is added and then filtered and dried in a vacuum oven at 50C. The yield is 49 grams of a fluffy, white copolymer having an alphaolefin terminated polystyrene content of 16%, as determined by I.R. of a pressed film. b. Preparation Of Graft Copolymer Having A Polyethylene Backbone And Poly(alpha-methylstyrene) Sidechains The macromolecular monomer used to produce the sidechains is first prepared by repeating the procedure described in Example 2(a), except that in place-of the n-butyl lithium, 14 m1. (0.0178 mole) of sec-butyl lithium (12% solution in heptane) is used as the initiator. The number average molecular weight, as determined by gel permeation chromotography, is 26,000 (theory: 26,500) and the molecular weight distribution is very narrow, i.e., the Mw/Mn is less than 1.05.

Four liters of cyclohexane (Phillips polymerization grade) and 200 grams of the alpha-olefin terminated poly(alpha-methylstyrene) macromolecular monomer produced as described above are charged into a Chemco reactor. The mixture is heated to C with concurrent stirring to dissolve the macromolecular monomer. The reactor is purged with high purity nitrogen for one hour with stirring. Ethylene gas is introduced into the reactor to a pressure of 5 psi, followed by 228 ml. of ethyl-aluminum sesquichloride (25% in heptane) and 1.0 ml. vanadium oxytrichloride. Agitation is increased and polymerization begins immediately, as noted by the pressure in the reactor dropping to nearly zero. The ethylene flow rate is adjusted to 5 liters per minute, and the internal temperature is controlled at 70C. At the end of 1 hour, the reaction is tergram of lrganox 1010 for 1 hour, centrifuged and dried in an oven at 50C. The yield is 260 grams having an alpha-olefin terminated poly(alpha-methylstyrene) content of 22%, as determined by IR. analysis of a pressed film.

EXAMPLE 17 Preparation Of Graft Copolymer Having An Ethylene-Propylene Copolymeric Backbone And Polystyrene Sidechains A 2-liter Chemco reactor is charged with 1 /2 liters of dry benzene and 50 grams of poly(alphamethylstyrene) terminated with allyl chloride (as pre- 

1. A COPOLYMEERIZABLE MARCOMOLECULAR MONOMER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SUCH THAT ITS RATIO OF MW/MN IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE ABOUT 1.1, SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM MOLECULAR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SUCH THAT MACROMOLECULAR MONOMER, AND MN IS THE NUMBER AVERAGE MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF THE MACROMOLECULAR MONOMER, SAID MACROMOLECULAR MONOMER BEING REPRESENTED BY THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA:
 2. The copolymerizable macromolecular monomer of claim 1, wherein R'' is hydrogen.
 3. The copolymerizable macromolecular monomer of claim 1, wherein n has a value such that the molecular weight of the macromolecular monomer is in the range of from about 10,000 to about 35,000. 